U.S. History I Unit 1
Describe seventeenth century Chesapeake society.
By the end of the seventeenth century the Chesapeake could best be described as a plantation society, dominated by a slaveholding aristocracy. In the late 1600s, the gap between rich and poor in white Chesapeake society steadily widened.
Describe the progression of the Portuguese contribution to Europeans' age of exploration and discovery.
In their voyages of exploration, the Portuguese became the first Europeans to make contact with sub-Saharan Africa—in 1441, a pilot returned with gold and slaves. The Portuguese mission of exploration stalled as pilots focused on the economic opportunities discovered in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Describe the emergence of the Society of Friends, better known as Quakers.
The Quakers rejected the concept of predestination and argued that everyone had an "Inner Light" within them through which they could attain their own salvation. The religious views of the Quakers (Society of Friends) put them at odds with the mainstream English theological beliefs.
Identify Roger Williams and explain his criticisms of the governing of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Roger Williams arrived in New England in 1631, and very soon after created a controversy that resulted in his expulsion from the Colony. Williams argued for a separation of church and state and a complete break with the Church of England. He defended the Native Americans, questioning the validity of the colony's charter because the king had not purchased the land from them as the rightful owners. Williams also opposed the practice of punishing settlers for their religious belief; he argued against the religious intolerance of Massachusetts. In 1663 the Bay magistrates banished Williams from the colony; he moved on to live with the Narragansett Indians and in 1636 began the settlement of Providence.
Describe the circumstances of the Pilgrim's journey to Holland and then to North America.
A small group of members, known as Pilgrims, believed that the Anglican Church could not be reformed and decided to break away from the Church of England, becoming separatists. However, English authorities required its citizens to attend Anglican services and provide financial support to the Church. For this reason, the Pilgrims believed they could no longer live in England. A small group of Pilgrims first immigrated to Holland in 1608 and 1609, but soon realized their descendants would be absorbed by Dutch culture, thus losing their English heritage. In 1617, to avoid this assimilation, the Pilgrims decided to move-on to North America.
4. Identify the region known as Mesopotamia and describe the religious traditions that emerged to influence today's world.
About ten thousand years ago the advent of agriculture prompted nomadic peoples to build communities in the fertile crescent of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Valley. As different peoples continued drifting into Mesopotamia from surrounding mountains and deserts they became known collectively as Indo-Europeans. According to religious tradition, about four thousand years ago Abraham moved from Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan, later known as Palestine and Israel. Abraham and his covenant with God became the source of two major monotheistic religious traditions—Islam and Judaism.
6. Identify Constantine the Great and explain how his actions influenced the rise of the Roman Catholic Church.
After breaking away from their Jewish origins, Christian leaders found their way to Rome—crossroads of the Empire. Christians endured brutal persecutions at the hands of Roman officials until Constantine the Great (ca. 285-337) came to power in 312. In that year, Constantine had to fight a battle to solidify Roman rule. He sought strength in the upcoming battle from the Christian's God and after successfully unifying Rome under his control, proclaimed Christianity to be a legitimate religion within the Empire. Constantine appointed the Christian's leader as the Bishop of Rome.
21. Identify the English charter that contributed to the development of America's political traditions.
Although Americans would reject the British system of monarchial rule to adopt a republican form of government, they structured their new nation on the unique English political institutions that evolved from the Magna Carta issued by King John in 1215. Examples of this Charter included the following rules: Clause 39 of the charter of 1215 declared that, "no freemen shall be . . . imprisoned or (dispossessed) . . . except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land." This clause established the legal precedence of due process. 2.) In 1628, the Petition of Rights allowed individuals to petition the government for a redress of grievances—a right that would be included in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. 3.) In 1679, the Habeas Corpus Act provided individual's right to have charges against them heard in a court of law—guaranteed in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
12. Identify the Conquistadors.
Although the Spanish crown had financed Columbus, they were not able to fund settlement or exploration in the Americas—this was left to Los Conquistadors. Conquistadors were private investors putting up their own money and reaping the bulk of the wealth, but they could only conduct their activities in the Americas under the authority and with the support of the Spanish crown. Also, the Conquistadors pledged loyalty and agreed to surrender one-fifth of the precious metals to the crown.
Explain how the tragic Indian attack of 1622 revealed the high death rate in Virginia and contributed to reorganization of the Colony.
An inquiry was conducted in response to an Indian attack that occurred on 22 March 1622 that resulted in 347 English colonists being killed. Following the attack, critics of the Virginia Company demanded to know the cause for this massacre. The ensuing investigation revealed a far greater tragedy. During the three years of Sandys' land grant program, the company had sent 3,570 persons to the colony to join the 700 who were already there for a total of 4,270 colonists. At the time of the massacre, only 1,240 were still alive. This meant that 3,030 had died in three years as compared to 347 killed in the Indian attack. In 1624, when the results of the investigation were disclosed, King James I dissolved the company and made Virginia a royal colony.
Identify Anne Hutchinson and explain her political, religious dissent of the Massachusetts Bay Colony's leaders
Anna Hutchinson arrived in New England in 1634 with her husband and children. She was outspoken on her views and accused most of the clergy of having lost touch with the "Holy Spirit" and compared them to the hated Archbishop Laud of London. Because Hutchinson had become concerned that the clergy was out of touch with Calvinist teachings—she began analyzing local ministers' sermons. In 1637 ministers and magistrates cross-examined Hutchinson for two days to determine if she was guilty of heresy. Hutchinson was expelled from the colony when she insisted that the local clergy had no authority over her because she had received personal revelations from God.
1. Describe how the first people came to and populated the American Continent. It will help to identify the term Beringia and consider how the process of global warming affected the population of the Continent.
Archaeologists believe that the first people to migrate to the American Continent came across the Bering Strait from Siberia (Asia). These nomadic people came in small groups; some following and hunting large herd animals and others making their way along the coast line fishing and hunting waterfowl. This journey became possible during an ice age when sea water was locked into glaciers, lowering the ocean levels and exposing a marshy subcontinent, known as Beringia, across the Bering Straits. A larger group remained in the northwestern region of the Arctic, but once global warming melted a pathway through the impassable glacier—present day Canada—these big game hunters continued to follow the herds as they moved southward.
Identify Roanoke and describe its fate.
Because the small expeditions (to Roanoke) could carry only limited provisions it was necessary to return immediately to England for resupply, but Governor John White delayed his return to England until after the birth of his granddaughter, Virginia Dare. Unfortunately, the English were preparing to fight the Spanish Armada (battle took plane in 1588) and White was unable to find a ship for his return until 1591. Upon his return to Roanoke, he discovered that the settlement had vanished. Roanoke's legacy would be that it was the first English settlement in America.
Identify the Albany Plan and its author; also explain its purpose and ultimate fate.
Benjamin Franklin used the Albany Congress to introduce his so-called Albany Plan. Franklin's plan was to create a Grand Council composed of delegates from each colony and a president general appointed by the king. The council would manage a unified defense of the colonies, organize westward expansion, and monitor relations with the Native Americans. Opposition to the Albany Plan came from Franklin's proposal that the council have the authority to raise funds necessary to meet military expenses by collecting taxes. Colonial assemblies oppose this idea because it infringed upon their jealously guarded taxing authority. The British government also objected, arguing that the council would undermine royal authority.
16. Identify Martin Luther and explain his role in the Protestant Reformation.
By 1509, Martin Luther, a German monk and a professor of theology at Wittenberg University, had been disillusioned by the corruption of the Catholic Church, especially the practice of selling indulgences. In response, Luther began giving lectures on the doctrine of "Justification by Faith Alone." On 31 October 1517, Luther made public his ninety-five arguments in which he challenged the Catholic Church, arguing that God spoke through the Bible, not the Pope. In June 1520, Luther was formally excommunicated, and the ensuing controversy divided Europe between Protestant and Catholic factions.
Describe the interactions of the European powers in North America. Although French settlement was never very active—few volunteered to endure the harsh colonial life style.
By 1746, Louisiana consisted of 4,100 African slaves, 3,300 French settlers, and 600 soldiers. Regardless, French claim to Canada and the Mississippi River Valley worried English colonists living along the Atlantic Coast because it appeared the French would prevent their westward expansion. French presence provided a line of posts from Detroit to Mobile that encircled English coastal settlements. The English and American Colonists were alarmed by this French encirclement, but at first mostly as it affected the Iroquois country of upper New York— French claims included the Ohio River Valley which the English also claimed. This is the region where France and England would clash in North America.
Explain the unique circumstance of the African-American slave community of South Carolina.
During the 1690s, Carolina's colonists developed rice as their great staple for the export market. Because rice is a labor-intensive crop, the demand for slaves resulted in South Carolina becoming the focal point of African-American culture.
19. Describe the interaction between the French and Native Americans.
During these years, French voyagers developed profitable fishing and fur industries. The French took an early lead in the fur trade; this trade drew them up the St Lawrence Valley and eventually into the Great Lakes region. French fur trade and Native Americans desire to acquire European manufactured goods (metal, cloth, and alcohol) created a French and Native Americans mutual dependency.
Describe seventeenth century New England's social and economic structure.
Economy: New Englanders found difficulty establishing an economy that could allow them to purchase the English manufactured goods they needed; however, when civil war eliminated England's monopoly of the fishing industry, New England's fishermen moved into the vacant fishing grounds. New Englanders then replaced England's global trade in fish from North America, developing an economy based on commerce that would rival the British; a situation that had the potential to create tensions between Boston and London. Family: The makeup of the population also played a role in shaping New England society. By migrating to the colony in family units, New Englanders were able to preserve their local English customs and values. Early New Englanders believed a healthy family to be the most important institution in society. A unique characteristic of New England was the extraordinary life expectancy. Males who survived infancy could expect to live for seventy (70) years; approximately 20% of the first generation reached 80. This is possibly the first society in recorded history that a person could expect to know their grandchildren.
Describe the similarities between the English government in London and the colonial assemblies in the American Colonies.
English Constitution By the early seventeenth century English political leaders came to realize that a balance of these governing styles would be of value. A pattern of mixed government came to characterize the working English constitution, not as a written document, but an expanding body of laws, statutes, and decisions. The monarchy resides in the English crown, which is heredity. The aristocracy is represented in the Hours of Lords and is also heredity, and democracy is represented in the House of Commons to which its members are elected by a popular vote. Colonial Assemblies: Colonial Americans accepted this concept of governing and believed that the structure of their own government replicated that in London. The royal governor, appointed by the crown, represented the monarchy. The governor's council was the equivalent of the aristocracy, and the colonial assemblies, elected by the colonists, represented the democracy of the people. The members of the Colonial assemblies believed themselves to be to the colonists the same as Parliament was to the people of England. Colonial assemblies saw their primary concern was protecting the rights of the people. Royal Governors: Royal governors held the power to veto legislation of colonial legislatures, dismiss judges, appoint colonial officials, and Serve as commander-in-chief of military, but like the British monarch, did not have the authority to tax the colonists.
11. Identify Christopher Columbus and describe his contribution to European exploration.
In 1484, Christopher Columbus approached the King of Portugal with a theory that China could be reached by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus believed it was 3,000 miles to Asia. Columbus then took his idea to the Spanish Monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella; they eventually accepted his plan and agreed to finance his voyage. In August 1492, Columbus landed in the West Indies—ironically, after 33 days and 3000 miles—and returned with a report of the presents of gold and the belief that he had reached Asia.
Describe England's path to empire through the activities of John Cabot, Richard Hakluyt, and Sir Walter Raleigh.
In 1497, John Cabot, commissioned by the British and searching for a northwest passage to Asia, sailed off the coast of Newfoundland. Once the English decided to establish colonies in North America, they cited John Cabot's voyage seeking the legendary Northwest Passage to China in 1497 as their right to colonize. In the sixteenth century, a Catholic counter-reformation strained relation between all Protestant and Catholic countries, but Richard Hakluyt did more than anyone to promote English colonization in North America. Hakluyt published a continuous flow of information about the need for England to establish colonies. In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh acquired a Charter from the Queen. In July 1587 the permanent settlers arrived at Roanoke—117 persons, including 17 women (2 pregnant), and nine children. This became the first English settlement in North America. Sir Humphrey Gilbert's Path to the Empire of England: In 1578, Queen Elizabeth gave Sir Humphrey Gilbert a charter that allowed him 6 years to build a colony in America. In the same year, Gilbert set out with 7 ships and 400 men, but storms forced him to turn back. In June 1583, with only one year remaining on his charter, Gilbert set out again. This time he reached the coast of North America, but during a storm he and his ship were lost at sea, Hakluyt helps him with his voyages but is lost at sea in the end.
18. Explain early French interest in North America and identify the area of French settlement on the North American continent.
In 1524 French government sent its first explorer, Giovanni Verrazano to the American Atlantic Coast to search for a "Northwest Passage" to China.
Identify Henry Hudson and describe the establishment of Dutch settlements in North America
In 1609, Henry Hudson led and exploration voyage for the Dutch—he sailed up the river now bearing his name in search of the Northwest Passage to China. In 1624, the Dutch cited this voyage as their claim to establish the colony of New Netherlands (present day state of New York). To protect the mouth of the Hudson River, the Dutch West India Company built their main colony of New Amsterdam on the lowest tip of Manhattan Island. The Dutch realized that unless they populated New Amsterdam they would lose control to the English—they attempted to achieve colonization by allowing all nationalities to settle.
Explain the circumstances surrounding the English acquisition of New York.
In 1664 Charles II granted the lands between the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers to his brother, the Duke of York (the future James II) and supplied him with a fleet for their conquest—this fleet sailed into the harbor of New Amsterdam and captured New Netherlands without a shot being fired. At the time, there were only about 7,000 Dutch settlers. The colony was renamed New York and because of the Duke of York's absolute rule New York became the least democratic of all the colonies.
Identify Nathaniel Bacon and describe the issues contributing to his rebellion, and explain how it ended.
In 1675, Indians attacked several outlying plantations, and the freemen wanted the governor to appoint a commander of the militia and authorize a punitive raid. Bacon seized this unrest to become a leader of the rebellious freemen. Nathaniel Bacon led a rebellion in Virginia for several reasons: he wanted to break the power of the planter elite; he wanted to get even with Governor Berkeley; he wanted to remove the Indians from Virginia; and he wanted to become a popular leader of the people.
Describe Penn's formation of a government that he referred to as his "Holy Experiment" in the Pennsylvania Colony.
In 1682, Penn explained his "Holy Experiment" in a document known as the "Frame of Government." This document provided complete freedom of worship and established a democratic government. The Frame of Government granted: guaranteed liberty of conscience; freedom from persecution; provided for a one-house legislature; no taxation without representation; and provided for due process of law.
Identify Edmund Andros.
In 1686, James incorporated all the colonies from New York to Maine into the Dominion of New England and appointed Sir Edmund Andros as governor-general. By furthering this scheme, James would not be dependent on taxes raised by Parliament.
Describe the arrival of non-English immigrants to British Colonial America.
In 1740, in part to meet the need for increased immigration, Parliament passed the Plantation Act, which enabled foreign-born colonists to become British citizens—a requirement for legal ownership of land and political rights. The prerequisites for British citizenship were: seven years residents in the colonies; swearing allegiance to England; be a Protestant; and pay a two-shilling fee. The non-English emigrants that took advantage of the Plantation Act primarily consisted of Scots-Irish and Germans. They needed men for the militia to fight the French.
Explain the motivation for the Salem Witchcraft Trials and what or who brought the hysteria to an end.
In Salem, Massachusetts in February 1692, a group of teenaged girls began experiencing spectacular fits, thrashing about and shrieking. The girls, under pressure from questioning, began naming a wide circle of local residents as witches and wizards that were causing their afflictions. Hundreds of people were arrested, twenty-one put on trial and nineteen executed. In response to the Salem witchcraft trial hysteria, Increase Mather called for restraint and caution. The hysteria ended and the remaining accused were released from jail.
Identify Henry VII, and explain how he sought to improve England's relations with Spain, also describe how his plan worked out.
King Henry VII (r. 1485-1509) had no standing army and only a small navy. As a militarily weak nation, England could only hope for a diplomatic alliance with Spain. Henry attempted to accomplish such an alliance through an arranged marriage between his son Arthur, who was being groomed as heir to the English throne, and Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
Explain the primary reasons for English migration to North America.
In spite of the difficulties the English encountered in establishing a colony in North America, England would eventually provide the migration necessary to form the foundation of a new nation. Richard Hakluyt's optimism inspired many English to migrate to the wilderness of North America; however, a rapidly growing population also contributed to migration. From 1580 to 1650, the English population increased from 3.5 million to 5 million; this strained the agrarian economy: unemployment increased, and people brought about several reasons for migration to North America; the prospects of failing into poverty were becoming greater for more and more people; A desire to acquire land provided an incentive to migrate to North America; and in addition, with the growing population the demand for food increased. This made land more valuable, thus difficult to obtain. Landowners who had customarily allowed their workers garden plots now took this land for their own use. In addition, many came to America in hopes of acquiring land, thus improving their social status and religious freedom.
Describe the structure and functioning of the Congregationalist Church in New England.
In the earliest years of settlement, the Congregationalist Church accepted membership only from persons who had demonstrated that they were among God's "elect" by making a public declaration, describing their conversion experience. The first-generation colonists had been conscientious about presenting this conversion experience, but later generations had become more concerned with economic success and gave less thought about providing testimony of their "election."
13. Identify Hernan Cortes and describe his exploits on the American continent.
In the early years of the sixteenth century, Hernan Cortes was a minor government official in Cuba when he heard rumors of fabulous wealth in Mexico. Possibly this rumor came from the Vasco Nunez de Balboa expedition in 1513 that crossed the isthmus in present day Panama to be the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. On 18 November 1518 Cortes set out in search of adventure, glory, and wealth; he led an expedition of 600 men to the Mexican Coast and scuttled his ships to prevent retreat. Through technological superiority and psychological advantage Cortes overwhelmed the Aztec emperor Montezuma.
Explain how the Spanish monarch's leadership benefited the Spanish empire.
In the final analysis of Spain's empire, the leadership and support of the Spanish monarchs between 1500 and 1650 as their countrymen extracted 200 tons of gold and 16,000 tons of silver from the Americas, allowed Spain to become the leading world power in the sixteenth century.
Identify Barbados and explain the creation and economic development of the Carolina Colony.
In the mid-seventeenth century, English began establishing colonies in the West Indies. In 1650, more English lived in the West Indies than on the North American mainland. The majority lived on the island of Barbados. The economic attraction was the growing of sugarcane and the processing of sugar. The English on Barbados originally used indentured servants, but gradually transitioned to the use of African slaves. By 1660, African slaves outnumbered the English on Barbados by 27,000 to 26,000. During the 1670s, West Indies planters from Barbados established a new colony on the Atlantic seaboard between Virginia and Spanish Florida—the idea was to create a security buffer. Most colonists came from Barbados—providing an opportunity for those unable to establish themselves in the West Indies. During the 1690s, Carolina's colonists developed rice as their great staple for the export market. Because rice is a labor-intensive crop, the demand for slaves resulted in South Carolina becoming the focal point of African-American culture.
Identify Captain John Smith and describe his contribution to the survival of Jamestown.
In the summer of 1608, Captain John Smith became the leader of the settlement and introduced a rigid military discipline that allowed the conditions to improve. Unfortunately, when Smith had to return to England in 1609 Jamestown experienced what has been called the "starving time" in the winter of 1609-10.
Identify the factors that contributed to Americans' growing sense of shared identity.
Inter-colonial Trade, Colonial Assemblies, and the Great Awakening
17. Identify John Calvin and explain the religious philosophy of Predestination.
John Calvin (1509-64), born in France, became Martin Luther's successor in Reformation and the most influential early Protestant thinker of the time. By the mid-1500s Calvin was established in Geneva where he would spend the remainder of his life ministering to the French-speaking Swiss community and actually eclipsing Luther as a religious and moral reformer. From his readings of Augustine of Hippo, The City of God, John Calvin formed his systematic treatises of predestination. This concept of predestination is that human nature from the beginning of time had been corrupted and separated from God through the Fall, that is, primordial transgression of Adam and Eve—original sin. After the transgressions of Adam and Eve, human beings could not freely decide to either defy or obey God, but rather, a person's spiritual character was decided in God's mind. While the majority of mankind would face eternal damnation, an elect few would be spared.
Explain the circumstances of the establishment of the Maryland Colony.
Lord Baltimore established Maryland with the intent of creating a sanctuary for England's persecuted Catholics.
Explain the economic practice of mercantilism and describe the implementation, purpose, and consequences of the Navigation Acts.
Mercantilism is an economic theory and practice, popular from 1500 to 1800, that used government regulation and monopolies to control business, and especially to maintain colonies as part of a global system. The British Empire provides only one example of a mercantile system. The idea was to maximize English profits while keeping other nations out of the trade. The Navigation Acts implemented and enforced the mercantile system. The Acts would solve different problems for different special interest groups: The King could raise revenue; English merchants could exclude their Dutch rivals and monopolize the American markets; the Gentry members of Parliament got a stronger navy by expansion of the shipbuilding industry; and overall the English wanted a more favorable balance of trade.
10. Describe the social, economic, and cultural structure of West Africa in the fifteenth century.
On the west coast of Africa, European traders found powerful and well-organized kingdoms, but because they lacked a unifying structure, many sub-Saharan Africans continued to live in stateless societies. West Africans spoke many languages and organized themselves into diverse political groups. Individuals primary social identity remained within well-defined lineage groups—clans—claiming descent from a common ancestor. The clan elders made decisions about economic and human resources. Centuries earlier Islam had spread slowly from Arabia into West Africa. In 1030 a kingdom located in the Senegal Valley accepted Islam, but many West Africans continued to observe their traditional religions. The Muslim traders from North Africa and the Middle East that introduced Islam into West Africa also expanded sophisticated trade networks linking the villages of the region with urban centers—such as Morocco and Tunisia—in northwest Africa. Great camel caravans regularly crossed the Sahara carrying trade goods it exchanges for gold and slaves in Sub-Saharan Africa. The commercial contact served to strengthen the influence of Islam in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 1686 a French priest observed that many devout African Muslims made the difficult pilgrimage to Mecca.
Identify James I's new method of financing colonization in North America and explain how it was more effective.
Previously efforts to colonize encountered the problem of making a major investment with an inherent risk of losing everything. The merchants and bankers (capitalists) resolved this problem by forming the joint-stock company. Investors could make purchase of stock that would limit their losses if the venture should fail. Individuals would not risk bankruptcy and they could expect to share in profits of the company. Individuals would not risk bankruptcy and they could expect to share in profits of the company. However, on 10 April 1606, James I issued the Virginia Charter, authorizing the London Company—soon to become the Virginia Company—to establish plantations in Virginia. Sir Thomas Smith, wealthiest of the merchant, headed a group of partners running the Virginia Company. The initial plan was for an advance party to establish a fortified base in the Chesapeake Bay region. In December 1606, three ships sailed with 144 colonists and arrived in the Chesapeake Bay region in April 1607—thirty-nine died in the crossing
8. Identify Henry the Navigator and explain his role in the age of exploration and discovery.
Prince Henry the Navigator organized a university in Portugal as that country led the way in ocean exploration—first ship went out in 1420 and continued for the next 40 years.
Identify the purpose of the assembly that would evolve into the British Parliament in England.
Since 1199, the Pope imposed an income tax on the English church for the purpose of finance crusades. The English clergy called assemblies to haggle over the appropriate amount of Papal taxation and also took the opportunity to discuss other matters they felt needed resolution.
14. Explain how the Spanish Crown restructured their American colonies to gain better control.
Spain had discovered, conquered, and colonized the most extensive empire in Europe's history, but now had to devise ways of developing and controlling the great wealth that had been discovered. The solution would be to divide the Empire in viceroyalties that would be governed by appointees of the monarch. Since the monarchs had funded Columbus' voyage of exploration, the West Indies were considered direct possession of the crown rather the Spanish government. The remained of the Americas would be organized into two viceroyalties—New Spain established in 1535 and Peru in 1544.
Identify the geographical location in North America occupied by European powers—Spain, France, and Great Britain.
Spain still controlled the empire of New Spain in North America—a region known as the Spanish Border lands, including the present-day states of Florida, Texas and New Mexico as well as California. In 1565, the Spanish built St Augustine (first European settlement in the present day United States) on the east Florida coast to protect the route of Spanish treasures ships from attack by their European rivals, particularly the French. By 1746, Louisiana consisted of 4,100 African slaves, 3,300 French settlers, and 600 soldiers. Regardless, French claim to Canada and the Mississippi River Valley worried English colonists living along the Atlantic Coast because it appeared the French would prevent their westward expansion. By the eighteenth century, the British had established thirteen colonies between the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Coastline.
Identify Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield and explain their roles in the Great Awakening in Colonial America.
The Great Awakening was sparked in part by Jonathan Edwards, a Congregational minister in Northampton, Massachusetts. Edwards accepted traditional Calvinist teachings of predestination, and he warned of the mistaken belief that one could avoid eternal damnation by performing "good works." The awakening began and burned out in New England in the 1730s, but during the next two decades spread throughout the other colonies. George Whitefield, an itinerant minister from England, made revivalism a mass movement as he traveled throughout all the colonies. Like intercolonial trade, the Great Awakening brought a sense of shared identity to the American colonists. The Great Awakening had the effects of stimulating higher education, encouraging development of individualism, fostering an optimistic view of the future, and invoking a sense of "new birth" among believers.
Describe the land grant system that attracted new colonists after 1618.
The Virginia Company changed to a policy intended to attract wealthy investors—a land grant system known as the granting of "headrights." After 1618, the Virginia Company's chief means of attracting new settlers was a system of land grants. The headright system allowed for the award of fifty acres to any man with the means to pay his own passage across the Atlantic. In addition, an additional fifty acres for each indentured servant or relative brought at their expense. Once their indenture was served, they were also entitled to fifty acres each. In a further effort to attract gentlemen-settlers, Sandys established a representative assembly in Virginia—the House of Burgesses.
Identify the source of the Virginia Colony's economic survival.
The Virginia Company's first profits came when John Wolfe's development of tobacco cultivation made Jamestown profitable. In 1617, the Jamestown colonists shipped their first cargo of tobacco to England. After 1618, these profits derived from tobacco sparked a new interest in Virginia. Sir Edwin Sandy's and his associates took over the leadership of the stock company and implemented a land grant or headright system to increase profits.
Explain how the Virginia colonists selected the site for Jamestown and describe their experiences during the early years.
The advance party that would establish a settlement was instructed to find a site that could be easily defended against surprise attack and this became the primary consideration in the selection for the location of Jamestown. The site of Jamestown was dependable, but it was located on the James River and surrounded by a swamp—this would lead to disease and death among the early Jamestown colonists. By mid-September, 46 settlers had died of starvation and malaria.
Identify Sir George Calvert.
The creation of the Maryland Colony began in 1625 when Sir George Calvert, who served as King James I secretary, disclosed that he was a Catholic and because of England's anti-Catholic society was forced to resign his position in the king's service; but in 1632, because of his long and distinguished service to the crown, Charles I granted George Calvert's son, Cecilia (Lord Baltimore) a charter for a proprietary colony in the territory just north of Virginia.
Identify the most advanced cultural region from which agriculture emerged on the American Continent.
The development of agriculture allowed Mexico and Central America to become the most advanced cultural region in the Americas.
2. Identify the importance of the development of agriculture and explain how it influenced emerging civilizations.
The development of agriculture became a revolutionary lifestyle change that brought hunter-gatherer, nomadic societies into the settled communities forming the nucleus of early civilizations.
20. Identify the basis for French economic success in North America.
The fur trade became the basis for French economic success in North America.
Explain the pattern of inter-colonial trade.
The growing volume of shipping led to more complex trading patterns, causing significant growth in the colonial economy. American colonists' demand for British manufactured goods created a trade deficit with Great Britain. This heavy debt created a major problem. Colonists' trade with the West Indies played a vital role in offsetting their British debt. This inter-colonial trade also contributed to a growing sense of shared identity.
Explain the purpose of a Half-Way Covenant in New England Congregationalists Church.
The problem: Only children of parents of full church membership could receive baptism, and when the second generation reached adulthood, they discovered their own children were not eligible. · The Solution: In 1662, a church synod adopted the half-way covenant, which allowed the grandchildren of persons in full communion to be baptized even though their parents could not demonstrate conversion, hus lessening the requirement for baptism as Congregationalists.
7. Identify the factors that led to the rise of European nation-states.
The rise of European nation-states can be attributed to several interrelated factors that came together in the fifteenth century. As mass deaths from diseases subsided, Europe's population grew significantly. As Europe moved into the Renaissance, (14th through 17th centuries), more effective farming techniques allowed landowners to increase food production. These two factors brought about general prosperity. The landowners could now afford the luxury goods and this in-turn gave rise to a new merchant class (Italian merchants). These economic changes provided monarchs with a source of revenue—taxing the imported goods—that allowed them to become independent of the feudal lords. Thus the "new monarchs" (Henry VII of England, Louis XI of France, and King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain) emerged who brought about a strong central authority, allowing for the creation of nation states. This centralized authority allowed the countries of Western Europe to enter an age of exploration as they looked for an ocean route to Asia.
Describe the early Greek and Roman governing traditions that have shaped governance in the United States.
To govern the city-states, Greeks began a practice of giving some citizens a limited voice in governing—this limited democracy became an important contribution to Western Civilization. The Romans introduced a republican form of government (509 to 44 BCE), replacing the Etruscan king with two magistrates (consuls) who were elected annually from the aristocratic senate and governed with its advice.
Identify the Mayflower Compact and describe the creation of the Plymouth Colony.
William Bradford, leader of the Pilgrims, learned that some of the non-settlers accompanying the Pilgrims felt no obligation to respect the rules of the religious community. On 11 November 1620, to prevent the struggling community from falling into anarchy, William Bradford required all forty-one men in the group to sign a contract that would assure that the group would remain together and work for the good of all. The Mayflower Compact created the legitimate civil government of the Pilgrims for Plymouth Colony.
Identify William Penn and explain the formation of his Pennsylvania Colony.
William Penn joined the Society of Friends and in 1681 acquired a charter from Charles II that made him the sole owner of Pennsylvania. Penn founded Pennsylvania as a refuge for Quakers. In 1682, Penn explained his "Holy Experiment" in a document known as the "Frame of Government." This document provided complete freedom of worship and established a democratic government. The Frame of Government granted: guaranteed liberty of conscience; freedom from persecution; provided for a one-house legislature; no taxation without representation; and provided for due process of law.
Describe the emergence of the Puritan traditions and explain its consequences.
Winthrop and his (Puritan) group believed this distance from the seat of royal and parliamentary power would allow them to reform the Church of England; the Puritans would remove all traditional church hierarchy, separating the church from and state control and allow communities to organize and administer their own Congregationalist church.
Identify the Supremacy Act of 1534 and explain why the English people accepted the Protestant Reformation.
With a serious of statutes Parliament abolished all Papal authority in England and through the Act of Supremacy (1534) declared the King of England to be supreme head of the Church of England. Henry and Parliament could not have brought about the Reformation in England if English public opinion had not supported the movement. As the Protestant Reformation gained momentum in England, a sense of English nationalism intensified. Over the years, the English had grown increasingly dissatisfaction with the Roman Catholic Church. An intense anticlerical attitude emerged among the English people because they came to see the clergy as illiterate, devoid of any spirituality, and only seeking personal wealth. In the wake of this growing anticlerical attitude, the English strongly resented paying money to Rome.
